New Dawn

Centre for Immigration

What is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot?

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot or AIP was launched in March 2017 by the federal government in response to the population challenges faced by all of the Atlantic Provinces.

It is an employer-driven program that enables 2000 additional newcomers to make their way to, or remain in, the Atlantic Provinces for each of the next three years, in addition to these provinces annual immigration quotas.

For Nova Scotia this means the ability to welcome 800 additional newcomers in addition to the usual 1350 it welcomes each year.

Under the AIP, an employer must be designated to be able to participate in the program. Once employer is designated, he or she can make a job offer to a newcomer who is already in the country or someone who they have identified in another country.

With a job offer, proof of employer designation, and a settlement plan provided by one of Nova Scotia’s approved Settlement Provider Organizations (SPOs), the employee can begin working for the employer and can begin their path towards permanent residency.

To become designated, an employer must:

Have a business operating in good standing

Provide information on labour needs

Commit to working with a service provider organization on settlement and retention

Through the AIP, employers can hire candidates who meet the requirements in any of the following streams:

Atlantic High-Skilled Program

Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program

Atlantic International Graduate Program

The work experience, education, and job offer a candidate needs will depend on whether they are applying as a worker or an international student graduate.